43
YSU’s Montgomery says 2016 was rewarding, frustrating
By Greg Gulas
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
In 26 years of football coaching, YSU offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery says the Penguins’ 2016 season was his most frustrating and challenging, especially in the middle of the year.
He also says their run to the FCS championship game was the most rewarding.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches at Avion Banquet Center, Montgomery said the recent spring practice yielded some answers for 2017, but there are still some question to be addressed before the Sept. 2 season opener against the University of Pittsburgh.
“We decided to go earlier with spring practice this year and while it was a shorter off-season for the players, Coach Pelini didn’t want to practice after Easter,” Montgomery said. “Plus, it gives the players four weeks-or-so in order to prepare for their finals and for those that were injured, an opportunity to heal.”
Considered by many as one of the brightest offensive minds at any level, YSU’s eight-year OC focus in the spring was to replace two of the program’s premier running backs in Martin Ruiz and Jody Webb.
“We had four running backs — Joe Alessi, Tevin McCaster, London Pearson and Devon McNutt — take a lot of reps and they showed a lot of good things,” he said. “Two more running backs — Braxton Chapman from Farrell and Christian Turner from Cincinnati LaSalle — will come in this summer and have a chance to compete.
“All will have a chance at playing time.”
One of the more pressing needs came on the offensive line where Brock Eisenhuth and Dylan Colucci, four-year starters on the right side, need to be replaced.
“Left tackle Justin Spencer missed the entire spring due to a back injury,” Montgomery said. “We now have a decent idea, but it’s an area that we will keep looking at in order to put the best people on the field.”
All receivers are coming back, with Hunter Wells the starting quarterback heading into summer camp. Montgomery said Nathan Mays is the backup.
“Ricky Davis moved to wide receiver this spring and we can always move him back to quarterback,” Montgomery said. “Right now he’d be our third quarterback.
“Trent Hosick played well last year and moved to safety, but wasn’t cleared for spring due to a shoulder injury.”
Montgomery said many players on the defensive side have departed, with the staff looking to replace a couple linebackers and five of six players in the secondary.
“We need to replace a lot, but we’ve signed a number of players to come in and fill those voids,” Montgomery said. “We’ll have a different look in the fall, we just didn’t have much depth in the spring.”